Authorities in Canada are trying to understand what motivated a gunman to kill a soldier in the country’s capital Wednesday, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling the shooting the country’s second “terrorist” attack this week.
"We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated," Harper vowed in a nationally televised address after a masked gunman killed a soldier standing guard at Ottawa's war memorial. The victim was identified as Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24.
Following the shooting -- which was reported at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday -- the suspect stormed Parliament but was shot to death by ceremonial sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers, 58, authorities said.
The gunman was identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a 32-year-old Canadian national who had recently converted to Islam, ABC News has learned.
At this point, authorities are still gathering details about the gunman, Harper said.
"In the days to come, we will learn about the terrorist and any accomplices he may have had," Harper said.
Canada had already raised its national terrorism alert level following an incident Monday in which a Canadian soldier was killed in a hit-and-run by a man suspected to have been a radicalized jihadist.
Photography By Guillaume
Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, is seen at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Oct. 19, 2014.
Witnesses said Cirillo was gunned down at point-blank range, and that the gunman was carrying a rifle and dressed all in black, his face half-covered with a scarf. The gunman appeared to raise his arms in triumph, then entered Parliament a few hundred yards away, where dozens of shots soon rang out, according to witnesses.
Ottawa police first learned of the attacks after receiving multiple 911 calls at 9:52 a.m. about a shooting at the National War Memorial. Gunfire was later reported inside the parliament building, less than 400 yards away. The parliament building was put into lockdown as government officials hid in their offices while police searched the sprawling building.
In Washington, President Barack Obama condemned the shootings as "outrageous" and said: "We have to remain vigilant."
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa was locked down as a precaution, and security was tightened at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington.
Harper vowed that the attacks will "lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts" to keep the country safe and work with Canada's allies to fight terrorists.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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